I love woody warm sweet woody oriental stuff, and this scent is my attempt in this category. Its formula is very complex, made up by lots of components which I tried to mix in the smoothest way I could. So many components that, if you ask me, I have to look up the formula, the pyramid being just a synthesis.

The funny thing is, I worked so much on the balance of so many ingredients that I forgot how it all started. It all started in Marrakesh, one of my favorite city, which I visited at 28 and then 39, always coming back with plenty of fake oils, scented stones, resins to burn, carpets, swords, and other useless but crucial objects. Last time I came back with many smelly bottles, among which a deliciously fake oud oil. I have never been a fan of it — as it was so fashionable lately, and I really hate trends — but this one is different. So, once home, I tried to make my own base inspired by this Moroccan fake oud, thus creating a sticky sweet woody smoky oriental stuff, which I called ‘My Oud’.

Some time after, I started my Dark Side project (at the time named ‘Into Darkness’) and integrated this base in it. By doing so, I added in due proportion all ingredients of ‘My Oud’ into the bigger formula of Dark Side. After that, I made so many other variations during the following months while searching for a further harmony, that I simply forgot that the soul of ‘My Oud’ was in.

Only a frag lover’s review — wondering about the possibility of the presence of Oud, which of course was not enlisted in the pyramid — made me remember about my lovely fragrant memory from Marrakesh. So, if you really want to keep a secret, you just have to forget about it, like I did with ‘My Oud’ base.

Ingredients

Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Aqua, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Eugenol, Geraniol, Citronellol, D-Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Anise Alcohol, Isoeugenol, Benzyl, Cinnamate.

MEET THE MAKER

Name: Francesca Bianchi The Dark Side Extrait 30ml
Brand: Francesca Bianchi
SKU: 23909
Availability: InStock

Francesca Bianchi

Francesca Bianchi is a self-taught perfumer whose creative path began not in a laboratory but in the world of art. With a background in Art History and early work in art-book publishing, she developed a sensibility rooted in culture, emotion, and aesthetic nuance. A lifelong fascination with scent eventually drew her toward perfumery, and what began as a personal curiosity grew into a vocation. Her artistic training still permeates everything she creates: each fragrance feels less like a product and more like an expressive medium, a way of translating moods, memories, and intimate sensations into olfactory form.

Her creative process is slow, deliberate, and deeply personal. Every perfume starts as an idea — sometimes a state of mind, sometimes an emotional vignette — that she gradually shapes through countless trials. Some formulas come together in months, others take years. Bianchi composes the original perfume concentrate in her Amsterdam laboratory, where she works alone, refining accords until they fully capture her intent. Once the formula is ready, production unfolds across Europe: the concentrate is sent to a small atelier in Grasse for mixing with alcohol, and the fragrance is matured, filtered, bottled, and packaged in Milan. This craft-driven, hands-on process mirrors her philosophy: authenticity over speed, artistry over mass production.

Philosophically, Bianchi treats perfume as an emotional language. She is less concerned with trends or conventional “wearability” than with creating fragrances that provoke feeling. Many of her compositions explore intimacy, vulnerability, sensuality, and nostalgia. She uses both natural materials, which lend complexity and depth, and synthetics, which offer effects nature cannot provide. For her, the choice is never ideological — only expressive. The result is a signature style that is rich, immersive, often animalic, and unmistakably human.

Since launching her house in 2016, Francesca Bianchi has earned a devoted following among niche fragrance lovers. Her perfumes are known for their intensity and evocative storytelling, appealing to those who see scent as an art form rather than an accessory. Early creations such as The Dark Side, Angel’s Dust, and Sex and the Sea helped define her aesthetic: bold yet nuanced, intimate yet expansive. Collectors often describe her work as atmospheric and emotionally charged — the kind of perfume that wears like a narrative rather than a simple blend of notes.

Despite the sensuality and drama of her fragrances, Bianchi maintains a thoughtful approach to ethics and sustainability. She avoids using animal-derived materials such as natural musk or civet, preferring synthetic alternatives that offer similar effects without ethical compromise. She partners with raw-material suppliers who prioritise responsible harvesting and safe working conditions, and she designs her packaging to minimize waste, using recyclable materials and avoiding unnecessary plastic. This balance of luxury and responsibility is central to her vision: a perfume can be indulgent without being careless.

Today, Francesca Bianchi stands as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary niche perfumery. Her work resonates because it feels honest — rooted in personal expression rather than market formulas. For those drawn to fragrance as a form of art, her perfumes offer depth, complexity, and emotional truth. They are not merely scents to wear, but experiences to inhabit, each one revealing something intimate about the maker and, perhaps, the wearer too.

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